During the 1850’s, a small group of Episcopalians in Warren managed to hold three services to worship God. They meet their spiritual needs and strengthened themselves for ministry. Over one hundred sixty years later, we continue this grand tradition.
By the early 1860’s, the desire for a local Episcopal Church was increasing. Bishop Samuel Bowman had conducted one of the first services in Warren , a service whose attendees included Thomas Struthers and Moses Beecher. In 1861, while on a train trip to the oil regions of Western Pennsylvania , Bishop Bowman’s train encountered a landslide. During the long walk around the landslide, he died of a stroke. Contributions were made in his honor to erect churches in Warren and Titusville , and these gifts in memory of Bishop Bowman are responsible for the word “memorial” in Trinity Memorial Church. Over ten thousand dollars was raised locally to supplement a gift of $1200 dollars in memory of Bishop Samuel Bowman. In June of 1864, the Rev. C. Calvin Parker came to Warren and began to hold regular services at a variety of local sites and to help lead construction efforts. In 1867, our congregation met for the first time in the newly constructed “Little Red Church.”
Within thirty years, Trinity had outgrown “The Little Red Church” and our present sanctuary was built, with services beginning in “The New Church” in 1897. In 1981, we built our Narthex, and coffee hour no longer meant a run through the winter snow!
Trinity’s buildings house us. Our worship and fellowship make them our home.
The beauty and structure of our Episcopal liturgy is central to our parish’s worship of God. Over 25 dedicated clergy, from the Rev. Calvin Parker to our current priest, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Scott, have preached and led us in worship and life. Our music has been important to the parish from the mixed quartets who sang before we had an organ, to Mr. Cheesewright, our first organist and choir director who also began the first boys choir, to the hundreds of choir members who have sung praises to God and lifted our spirits in worship. Trinity’s musical talents have been part of the Warren community through Christmas programs and concerts. The altar guild cares for our altar vessels. Our acolytes, lay readers, Eucharistic Ministers, and ushers help complete our special service to God. We’ve also planted churches in Kinzua, Youngsville and other surrounding communities.
From the beginning, Trinity has been a diverse community. By 1868, Isaac Ruff, an African-American, was one of Trinity’s communicants. In 1977, Mary Beale became the diocese’s first female priest, having enjoyed the support of our long-serving rector the Rev. Richard Baker. To this day, our Trinity family includes many from different faith traditions and some from different continents. It’s a part of our love that also shows up in our fellowship events. Songs burst out at a choir party, smoke alarms go off during Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers, kids throw water balloons at a parish picnic– our parish family prays together and plays together, often loudly.
In times of grief, we put our arms around each other through prayers, cards phone calls, or a visit to the nursing home. Our lay Eucharistic Visitors go out in teams to bring communion every month to those who can’t make it to church.
We at Trinity love our neighbors. We helped start Hospice of Warren County, Canterbury Court, East Street House, and the Inter-Faith Chapel at the State Hospital . The oldest AA group in Warren still meets Tuesday evenings in our basement. Our outreach funds have supported the Ophelia Project, Faith Inn, A Safe Place , the Salvation Army, Family Services, and the Warren County Jail Ministry. Members of our parish also provide leadership in the community and in our diocese.
Today, we continue to glorify God, in part by caring for one another and our community. On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, we deliver hot meals to the home-bound in Warren and Forest counties. Each week we distribute diapers and feminine hygiene products through our Diapers and Such ministry. We maintain an emergency food pantry. We support periodic collection drives for all manner of things, including medical care packages for local cancer patients, shoes and clothing for local children, donations to support Holy Land ministries, and many other projects. We do this all for the glory of God. We are inviting God to be present in our space and the lives of the people who gather in them. We hope that all will see God at work.